Read2Me to host 3rd annual Thankful for Books event

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” —Emilie Buchwald

For children, reading is the gateway into a world of imagination and endless possibilities. From birth, it becomes essential for children to be introduced to books and to have their parents and caregivers read to them daily. Early literacy builds a strong foundation that children will need throughout their lifetime.

To celebrate the joy of reading and the gift of literary imagination, Read2Me is teaming up with local restaurants for the second annual “Thankful for Books” event on Thursday, Nov. 16. Read2Me will be providing participating restaurants with a basket of books for families to enjoy while they dine. Either while you wait for your food, or over an after dinner dessert, the books will be available for children and families to use.

A portion of the proceeds made from each restaurant during the Thankful for Books event will be donated to Read2Me to help fund such things as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Story Walks, and literacy training days for parents to help teach parents how to raise a reader. Just by dining out with your family, you will be making a contribution to the program and helping Read2Me in their mission of proving that “Reading Matters in Macon County.”

Participating restaurants include:

Cafe Rel

Las Barricas

Shoney’s

Thai Paradise

Martha’s Kitchen

Motor Company Grill

Crabtree General Store

Main Street Coffee & Yogurt

Huddle House of Franklin

Asian King

Gazebo Creekside Cafe

Sunset

Frogtown Market

As Garrison Keillor once said, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” The public is invited to join Read2Me in providing the gift of reading to children in Macon County.

About Read2Me

Read2Me is a non-profit volunteer organization geared toward promoting early literacy in the community. Through book distributions which provide free books to all children, parent training events at the library, and the community Story Walks located on the Greenway, at the Parker Meadows Recreation Complex, and in Highlands, these free events work to get books in the hands of children and raise awareness of the importance of raising a reader.

Read2Me also partners with the Literacy Council of Highlands to ensure that all children in Macon County, birth to age 5, can participate in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library at no cost to the family. The program provides one free book each month, until the child turns 5. To learn more about Read2Me, visit Read2Me on Facebook.